Vyjack looks the part, but Funny Cide comparison is premature

Monday

Mar 4, 2013 at 6:00 AM

Over the years, the winner's circle at Churchill Downs has not been home to many geldings after the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May. The last gelding to win the Kentucky Derby was Funny Cide, a New York-bred, bought, trained and sold by Ocala horseman Tony Everard.

By Bill GiauqueColumnist

Over the years, the winner's circle at Churchill Downs has not been home to many geldings after the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May. The last gelding to win the Kentucky Derby was Funny Cide, a New York-bred, bought, trained and sold by Ocala horseman Tony Everard.Not only was Funny Cide, who won in 2003, the first and only New York-bred to win the Derby, but he was the first gelding to win the coveted race since Clyde Van Dusen won the roses in 1929.Now, Vyjack, a gelding and winner of Saturday's $400,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct, has dead aim on the Derby. Although not available in most top 10 rankings for the Kentucky Derby, Vyjack was No. 7 in my top 10.The undefeated son of Into Mischief showed a new dimension in the Gotham. After running on or near the pace in his previous three races, Vyjack moved away slowly from the gate and at one point down the back stretch was absolutely last.However, midway on the far turn, he unleashed a powerful closing kick which saw him surge past the leaders in the deep stretch and win going away. This change of tactics augurs well for his ability to deal with changing circumstances as a race unfolds.Visually, Vyjack looked the talented athlete in winning the Gotham and was much the best. On the other hand, horseplayers don't want to mortgage their cars and home to go all in on Vyjack just yet.He is a gelding, and is a New York-bred. Geldings don't win the Derby often — as mentioned earlier — and a New York-bred is, well, a New York-bred.'Nuf said!To update my top 10, Normandy Invasion, No. 1 in my last top 10, ran fifth in his three-year-old debut last week in the Risen Star (gr. 2) at Fair Grounds. He had been my No. 1 because of his fast closing second to Overanalyze in the Remsen Stakes (gr. 2) last year.In his three-year-old debut, Overanalyze, my No. 8 horse, ran fifth to Vyjack in the Gotham. Maybe they both needed a race. We'll see, but something has to change.There appears to be a great number of speed horses making their way toward the Derby. For this reason, I am looking at closers, come-from-behind horses. I'm going to move Shanghai Bobby, the two-year-old champ from second to first.Orb, the winner of the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. 2), moves into the top 10 at No. 2. Flashback jumps from sixth to third off his impressive six-length win in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. 2). Owned by Trilogy Stable, Itsmyluckyday moves from fifth to fourth based on his win in the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. 3).Vyjack moves up to fifth from seventh. Goldencents moves from ninth to sixth. Normandy Invasion drops from No. 1 to No. 7. He might have needed that first start back as a three-year-old.Violence, the former No. 3 in my top 10, drops out after running an impressive race in the Fountain of Youth where he suffered a serious injury and is off the Derby trail. He's Had Enough also drops out of my top 10. He's had enough chances.Treasury Bill moves in at No. 8 off his impressive performance in the San Vicente (gr. 2), and Overanalyze drops from eighth to ninth. He, too, may have needed a race when he finished fifth to Vyjack in the Gotham Stakes. And rounding out the top 10 is Revolutionary, winner of the Withers Stakes (gr. 3).Everybody's hot horse Verrazano will have to wait until he faces stakes company. The Florida Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Cocktail Party and Charity Silent Auction is set for 6:30 p.m. on March 12 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s ITW (Intertrack Wagering) facility.Hundreds of auction items will be available along with barbecue by Barn Goddess BBQ, dancing to the Wheeler Sisters and a cash bar. The tickets are $20 per person and are available at the Farm Managers' Office, 6998 N. U.S. Highway 27 or by calling 352-401-3535.